On this day, twenty-six years ago, Israeli occupation forces launched a massive military incursion into Lebanon in an operation dubbed "Peace for Galilee." At first glance, the Israeli aggression seemed to be aimed at south Lebanon, but then Defense Minister Ariel Sharon pushed all the way to the capital Beirut.
"Peace for Galilee" for the Israelis is the "Israeli Invasion" for the Lebanese.  It began on 6 June, less than two months after Israel transformed its defeat in Sinai into a political victory in Camp David. Then Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin got the impression that all Arab countries would follow Egypt and sign so-called peace deals with Israel.
 
Jordan gave its word to Israel that it would sign such treaty once Lebanon signs a similar one. The Kingdom did not want to get involved in any agreement that would put it at odds with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) that had its leadership headquarters in Beirut.
Back then, Lebanon meant the fertile land for Palestinian resistance movements; thus dealing a blow to the PLO in Lebanon would crush the resistance once and for all and pave the way for signing a peace deal with Lebanon and then with Arab states. In doing this, Israel would extract the acknowledgment of Arabs in the so-called "state of Israel" and open the way for political and economic expansion in the Middle East region.
 
Menachem Begin found that the only way to achieve this "glory" for Israel was to invade Lebanon to crush the PLO, but under what pretext?
 
On July 24, 1981, US President Ronald Reagan's special envoy Philip Habib arrived in Beirut with a controversial mission. Habib managed to broker a shaky nine-months ceasefire between Yasser Arafat and Israel. When the ceasefire took effect, Tel Aviv was like a beehive preparing politically and logistically for their "big time invasion."  
Back in Beirut, Israeli and pro-Israeli bodies worked persistently on straining the internal front. Clashes between Lebanese and Palestinian forces expanded throughout south Lebanon. Both forces got weak and their chances of closing ranks to confront any Israeli military operation were zero.  
 
The element of direct military resistance was removed at a time some Arab regimes were at the Arab Summit in Fass preparing a formula to penetrate the Arab impregnability.
So everything was ready for the invasion. Israel just needed the pretext and it was not hard to find. On June 3, 1982, Israel's ambassador in London Shlomo Argov escaped an assassination attempt.
The Israeli intelligence told Begin that the PLO was not involved in the attack, however he withheld this information from his cabinet. Rafael Eitan, who was then the Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, responded to the aforementioned information in his famous saying "Abu Nidal, abu shmidal. We need to end PLO!"

Full article: http://www.insight-info.com/articles/item.aspx?i=1156

The Arab Summit is doing big things for hip hop. Heady played me this track the other day and I was blown away. The cats from the group are such down to earth guys and have always shown me mad love on the West Coast or when we link on this side. I think they will be in town next week, more details to follow

This is why I don't blog about the disposable hipster hop sneaker heroes with bright colored shirts and 80s baby punchline references...

UPSET THE SETUP

Click either image to view clip

In fact, during the speech some of the Arab leaders were digging for gold:

Après des décennies de non-dit, le Liban vient à résipiscence et ose enfin proclamer son désir incoercible de se séparer du frère siamois qui s'obstine à vouloir lui pomper la sève jusqu'à la fin des temps. Calmement et solennellement, le Liban ose enfin affirmer son rejet de la dictature dont il a subi les sévices pendant près de trente ans. Il ose enfin dire à son geôlier, en le regardant droit dans les yeux, que ni l'intimidation, ni les assassinats ne pourront plus éteindre la flamme qui a embrasé le cœur des Libanais. La séparation est inéluctable et plus rien ni personne ne pourra plus en empêcher l'échéance. Trois ans après son éviction forcée du Liban, La dictature syrienne n'arrive toujours pas à faire son deuil de la "tutelle" qui lui a été gracieusement octroyée par les Grandes Puissances. Peu importe si ces dernières ont pendant longtemps fermé l'œil sur la brutalité avec laquelle elle gérait sa chasse gardée, leurs intérêts de l'époque étaient ailleurs. Loin de profiter des multiples ouvertures qui lui ont été faites, elle continue à s'enfoncer avec une belle obstination dans une politique sans lendemain, fermement persuadée que les "cartes" dont elle dispose sur le terrain finiront par faire plier un jour tous ses adversaires réunis. D'aucuns pourraient arguer que cette fuite en avant est la seule option qui lui reste pour inverser le cours des évènements et empêcher la tenue du Tribunal international. Or, en continuant à jouer le trublion au Liban ou ailleurs, non seulement le régime syrien en accélère la tenue, mais il détruit les dernières chances d'un compromis "à la libyenne" qui pourrait lui être proposé. Pire, en persévérant dans la même voie, il se forge surtout une figure de paria dont l'élimination deviendra chaque jour davantage une nécessité de salubrité arabe et internationale. Aujourd'hui, l'étau se resserre un cran de plus. Les Arabes osent enfin à leur tour briser le non-dit et contrairement à une coutume ancrée dans leur imaginaire oiseux et qui les faisaient s'accrocher coûte que coûte à une "solidarité" de façade, ils se délectent aujourd'hui à étaler au grand jour leur différend avec le paria qui croyait pouvoir les terroriser en toute impunité. Mais, c'est bien la gifle libanaise que l'amphitryon syrien ne peut pas supporter. Le boycott par le gouvernement libanais du sommet de Damas l'a touché de plein fouet. La nervosité était nettement perceptible sur le visage essoufflé de Walid Moallem dont la graisseuse majesté n'a rien trouvé de mieux pour contrer l'insolence libanaise que d'affirmer que "les absents n’ont pas voix au chapitre" (sic) ! Le poussah syrien ne se rend même pas compte de son insignifiance et contrairement à ce qu'il a l'air de croire, ce n'est pas "une occasion en or" que le Liban perd en boycottant le sommet, mais c'est tout simplement le collier de serrage qui le maintenait enchaîné depuis son indépendance.

Bechir Oubary

http://heuristiques.blogspot.com/

(Bloomberg) -- "Lebanese officials will boycott an Arab League summit in Syria this month to protest a political deadlock that has left Lebanon without a president since November, a senior aide to the premier said.." Click here for full article

Since the release of "A bend in the river" his mission as an MC has changed from that of self-explanatory text to attacking the world from different Na'3al (slippers/shoes). On "A bend...", Narcy brought that raw feeling of being profiled, the emotion projected through the scope and silencer of The machine's gun pointed at Public Enemy Number 1: "The Muslim Arab man/Five Percent, Half a gram". On "Stereotypes Incorporated", his role was to bring life to the different forms of beings that brought death to the world, be it Nimrud in Babylon, a journalist offering mental slavery to a viewing audience through conditionable factoids, an American soldier getting caught in the realm of pow, or simply himself battling the different ideologies he has been forced to uncondition in the past three years.

A graduate student of Political Science and Communications and a Master of Media Studies, his field of study shaped his overall view of the world and helped him find a path to project the strife of the Modern day Arab Tribe. Growing up with Habillis and Nofy Fannan, as well as attending University with them, allowed a common development of reach towards the world, and helped formulate the message they wanted to project as a group of displaced Iraqis, seeking a "home" in the mind, instead of a nationalistic belonging. Political Science taught him the detriment of man's need to dominate over the "other"; the orientalist quest to bequeath the powers of all women/men, in order to validate one's existence as superior or beyond human control. Communications made him question his words, and reformulate his rhymes over and over, until he saw the underlying messages, the imagery and the subversive element he felt needed to be present on a EUPHRATES release.

As a descendant of Bas'rawis, the Narcicyst AKA Jamal Abdul Narcel seeks to bring back the soul of his mother-nation into the hearts of those who feel the Diaspora created through immigration to "civilized" territory. Whether "African", "Arab", "Hispanic", "Asian", or "Other", his quest for understanding of self is driven by an unquestionable desire for justice and equality during times of ever-growing separation and worldwide "clash of civilizations", and is shared by these factions separated by the light rays emanating of their darkened skin tones. In this modern day Uncivilization, a man's vision is blinded by shades of skin and cultural complexity, Jamal Abdul hopes to shed light onto those eyelids and awaken the sleeping revolution in our minds and souls, before starting the physical extension of change needed. now how egotistical is that? As he would say, "I ain't no prophet, never made any/ but humans too dense to repent from floos so we slay plenty/ my way, a semi recycled core of vitals/ I've played pennies, but we want more like Demi and Michael".

http://www.myspace.com/euphrates
http://illuminarcy.blogspot.com
http://www.iraqisthebomb.com

An archive AFP/Amr Nabil photo showing Saudi King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz talks during the opening session of the Arab summit in Riyadh , Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, March 28, 2007 which expected to focus on how to revive Middle East peace efforts. At background the Arab League logo.

Next? The fabulous making of the lebanese delegation, with a huge suspense about who's going to be in that delegation and if their will be two delegations or not... The bets are open, I already can bet that Lebanon's delegation is, once again, going to suffer from schizophrenia...

I don't think the Pakistani cricket team should be insulted in any way. Listen to the Pakistani folks talk on television (the bystanders out side our airports) or hear the slogans they're chanting, it all gives a glimpse into the nonsensical mindset our nation is in, at the moment - there's less respect for accomplished individuals and so much sorrow, failure and desire for a so called, well imagined, and yearned Cricket World Cup victory. I'm happy we lost, because we made mistakes. Let's get some sense into ourselves. It's just a cricket game, and if you can do better, go out there and make a difference.

The Srilankan cricket team is playing great cricket. Glimpses of Waqar Younis and Waseem Akram wrecking all tail enders, in gripping game finales was somewhat evident it todays match when Malinga bowled. Would it have been another centimeter or so, Srilanka had won the game. I think the Srilankans shook South Africa - they seemed very tense in the dressing room. They have a chance of going all the way, but they need to get more runs on the board. Some foolish and unwanted shots were played by the Srilankans, it's always better to play on ground, than try and aim for the skies.